What does takeover mean?
A takeover is the acquisition or seizure of control of a company, organization, or other institution. It may occur through a negotiated purchase of shares, an agreed merger, or a hostile bid in which one group attempts to gain control without the support of the existing owners. The word can also describe the replacement of one system or authority by another, as in a military or political takeover. In contemporary usage, “takeover” is especially common in business and finance, where it may refer either to the transaction itself or to the broader process of reorganization that follows it. “Hostile takeover” specifically describes an attempt opposed by the target company’s management or shareholders, although the distinction between agreed and hostile transactions can vary according to the circumstances. The related verb “take over” means to assume control of a business, responsibility, or activity. Together, these forms express the rapid transfer of power, ownership, or operational authority from one party to another.
The act of gaining control of a company or organization, especially by purchasing its shares or obtaining the agreement of its owners; also, a sudden transfer of political or institutional power.
"The board rejected the rival company’s takeover offer."
An agreed company purchase may be called a takeover, while “hostile takeover” specifies an attempt made without the target company’s support.
To gain control of a company, organization, responsibility, or activity, especially by acquiring it or replacing its existing owners or managers.
"The investors took over the struggling manufacturer and reorganized its production lines."
This verb is often used in business, political, and institutional contexts and can imply a decisive change in control or management.
The plural is used for separate acquisitions or transfers of control.
"The company survived several takeover attempts during the following decade."
A takeover can transform a company overnight, transferring control from one set of owners or managers to another.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does takeover come from?
The noun and verb developed from the phrasal verb “take over,” meaning to seize or assume control. The expression uses the ordinary verb “take” with the preposition or particle “over,” and it appears in English by the early twentieth century in contexts involving business and political control. The component words are Germanic in origin: “take” comes from Old English tacan, while “over” comes from Old English ofer. Related formations such as “overtake,” “undertake,” and “overcome” combine “over” with verbs of action, although they developed independently rather than serving as simple inflections of the modern word.
Related word forms
How takeover is actually used
In business and financial contexts, the word is especially common in the United Kingdom and the United States. “Takeover” can sound neutral and technical when referring to an agreed acquisition, while “hostile takeover” carries the clear connotation of an unwelcome or contested attempt to gain control.
Easily confused with takeover
A takeover is the acquisition or assumption of control of a business or organization, whereas a take-off is the act of becoming airborne or the beginning of a process such as economic growth.